Soybean root and stem diseases are caused by multiple pathogens and can occur at the same time, posing multifaceted challenges to growers. This scenario complicates the diagnosis process, demanding advanced solutions for rapid and accurate identification of these important soybean diseases. Pathogen detection using molecular techniques serve as reliable means to differentiate between diseases that exhibit similar or overlapping symptoms. These techniques are also valuable diagnostic tools to detect pathogens at early plant stages or before visible symptoms appear. Furthermore, advanced testing can simultaneously identify multiple soybean pathogens. This eliminates the guesswork associated with selecting multiple individual tests, saving both time and resources. Accurate diagnoses equip farmers with the capability to make informed and timely disease management decisions, ensuring that strategies are deployed only when necessary, thus minimizing production costs. We aim to seamlessly integrate these advanced tests into our diagnostic services, effectively providing farmers with diagnostic tools they need to manage soybean diseases. The Plant Diagnostic Lab at North Dakota State University is committed to offering high quality diagnostics and timely communication to help farmers make proactive choices and stay updated with major, as well as new or emerging, soybean diseases within our state. Through these concerted efforts, we aspire to enhance diagnostic capabilities and disseminate research-based insights on soybean diseases, directly benefiting North Dakota's soybean farming community. Our overarching goal is to equip farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to safeguard their crops, reduce losses, and optimize the sustainability and profitability of their operations.

The objectives of this research are to: 1) Develop and validate molecular assays for simultaneous detection of multiple soybean stem and root rot pathogens, and 2) Communicate information to soybean growers by providing diagnostic reports and extension materials.

The project deliverables are as follows: 1) Diagnostic tests developed through this project will be incorporated into the diagnostic toolkit available to growers through the NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab, and 2) Extension materials on soybean disease diagnostics will be distributed to growers during the winter meetings and will be available for walk-in clients on campus.

Our research will provide highly specific and accurate identification of soybean pathogens, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis. Simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens will save time and resources compared to individual testing. Furthermore, molecular diagnostics can detect pathogens at an early stage and identify the major root rot pathogens impacting soybean production. Consequently, disease diagnosis and testing provide North Dakota farmers with timely and accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions on disease management strategies, minimizing yield losses and enhancing overall profitability.